An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek ἄστρον (astron), meaning 'star', and ναύτης (nautes), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a …

4 days ago · Four astronauts are blazing NASA's trail back to the moon. Their mission, which could launch Feb. 8, will take them farther from Earth than humanity has ever gone before.

Jan 14, 2026 · The term “astronaut” derives from the Greek words meaning “star sailor,” and refers to all who have been launched as crew members aboard NASA spacecraft bound for orbit and beyond.

Jan 19, 2026 · astronaut, designation, derived from the Greek words for “star” and “sailor,” commonly applied to an individual who has flown in outer space. More specifically, in the West, astronaut refers …

Jan 15, 2026 · Two Americans and astronauts from Japan and Russia landed in a SpaceX capsule in the Pacific Ocean after a medical issue prompted NASA to move up their return to Earth.

Learn who astronauts are and what they do in space and on Earth.

Discover a definitive list of astronauts from NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and more. Explore bios, mission details, and careers of global space explorers, past and present. Your ultimate resource for astronaut …

5 days ago · Training is underway for NASA’s newest class of astronaut candidates at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. The nearly two-year long process began this past September for the four …

NASA applies the term astronaut to any crew member aboard NASA spacecraft bound for Earth orbit or beyond. NASA also uses the term as a title for those selected to join its Astronaut Corps.

4 days ago · Ahead of the launch of Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years, astronauts share the movies that capture the danger, teamwork, and wonder of spaceflight. …